Adjustable push forward dispensing mechanism

• US 6,691,891 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2002
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alexandre Maldonado
• Original Assignee: Alexandre Maldonado
• Inventors: Maldonado, Alexandre
• Primary Examiner(s): Noland, Kenneth W.
• Application Number:
  US10/161,801
• Publication Number:
  US 20030000956A1
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 221/124, 221/129, 221/279, 221/271, 221/289, 211/59.3, 211/59.2, 211/51
• US Class Current: 221/279
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/125 with an article-pushing device
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/42 the articles being delivered by motor-driven means

Abstract

An automatic product advance mechanism for dispensing merchandise on vending machines shelves is presented. A combination of electronic and mechanical components enables the disclosed system to automatically adjust for dispensing different product packaging formats and dimensions. Protected by a front clear gate-shield the products are loaded on an upright position on top of a base-rack, escorted by interchangeable column dividers and supported by a sliding carrier back-sled. The system operates by energizing a gear motor pivot ably connected to a crank-slider mechanism driving eccentrically a ratcheting pawl assembly that pushes the carrier back-sled towards the front end of said base-rack and simultaneously opens the clear gate-shield until the first product loaded to the furthermost position is dispensed. On its downfall trajectory the product passes through an optical sensor beam that signals the system electronic interface board to immediately reverse direction of the gear motor revolution returning the mechanism to its home and rest position simultaneously closing the clear gate-shield and preventing the next product to fall.

Claims

1. An automatic product advance mechanism for dispensing single merchandise on vending machines shelves utilizing a combination of electronic and mechanical components that enables the disclosed system to automatically adjust for dispensing different product packages formats and dimensions, said advance dispensing mechanism comprising of:

at least one base-rack means to load a row of products to be dispensed escorted by two abutted side column dividers positioned upwardly on each side of said base-rack or in between said row of products extending from the front to the back of said base-rack, wherein said base-rack has on each side a step-rail and one groove in the middle all positioned longitudinal to said base-rack wherein said column dividers is placed to slide along;

two sliding support carrier back-sled positioned upwardly on a 102°

angle in relation with the surface of said base-rack, means to hold the products loaded on the said base-rack in between said column dividers on an upward position facing the front of the said base-rack, and

two actuator ratchets sliding forward and back each inside a two built-in channels positioned flat and on each side of said base-rack, means to move forward and back said column dividers and push forward said support carrier back-sled driven by the activation of a gear motor that operates a crank-slider mechanism assembly.

2. The automatic product advance dispensing mechanism of claim 1 wherein said column dividers are connected to said actuator ratchet.

3. The automatic product advance dispensing mechanism of claim 1 wherein said base-rack means to accommodates many products of different shapes and sizes placed upwardly on said base-rack and in between said column dividers and supported by said carrier back-sled.

4. The automatic product advance dispensing mechanism of claim 1 wherein said support carrier back-sled slides along the said base-rack on a groove adjacent and substantially parallel to the said built-in channels of said actuator ratchets.

5. An automatic product advance mechanism for dispensing single merchandise on vending machines shelves utilizing a combination of electronic and mechanical components that enables the disclosed system to automatically adjust for dispensing different product packages formats and dimensions, said advance dispensing mechanism comprising of:

at least one base-rack means to load a row of products to be dispensed escorted by two abutted side column dividers positioned upwardly on each side of said base-rack or in between said row of products extending from the front to the back of said base-rack, wherein said column dividers are integral with a clear gate-shield device positioned at right angle perpendicular to the front of said column divider, means to secure and hold the first product loaded from falling off said base-rack when said gate-shield is on close position; and

two sliding support carrier back-sled positioned upwardly on a 102°

angle in relation with the surface of said base-rack, means to hold the products loaded on said base-rack in between said column dividers on an upward position facing the front of said base-rack, wherein each said support carrier back-sled has a pivoted pawl located on the back of said support carrier back-sled, means to engage by gravity to the teeth of said actuator ratchet; and

two actuator ratchets sliding forward and back each inside a two built-in channels positioned flat and on each side of said base-rack, means to move forward and back said column dividers and push forward said support carrier back-sled driven by the activation of a gear motor and a crank-slider mechanism assembly, wherein said gear motor rotates said crank-slider mechanism using a shaft mounted at one end to the bore of said gear motor and the other end to said crank leverage arm on said crank-slider mechanism pivot point.

6. The automatic product advance dispensing mechanism of claim 5 wherein said clear gate-shield device is parallel and slanted equally to said support carrier back-sled.

7. The automatic product advance dispensing mechanism of claim 5 wherein said each support carrier back-sled includes a plate connected to two extended legs perpendicular to said plate and substantially parallel to each other with two feet wherein said feet means to slide inside said grooves, means to slide smoothly and restrain said support carrier back-sled to said base-rack grooves.

8. The automatic product advance dispensing mechanism of claim 5 wherein said pawl pivoted to each said support carrier back-sled is design on a L-shape format intentionally wherein the longer part of said pawl is placed upwardly and diagonal to the back of the plate of said support carrier back-sled and has an attached wider part at the end, means to release said pivoted pawl from the engagement with the said actuator ratchet teeth when pulled towards the direction of said back plate.

9. The automatic product advance dispensing mechanism of claim 5 wherein said crank leverage arm is pivot ably connected to an extended linkage arm, means to increase said actuator ratchet stroke.

10. The automatic product advance dispensing mechanism of claim 9 wherein said extended linkage arm is pivot ably connected to said slider on said crank-slider mechanism.

11. The automatic product advance dispensing mechanism of claim 10 wherein said slider is fastened to said ratchet, means to drive said ratchet when crank-slider mechanism assembly is activated.

12. An automatic product advance mechanism for dispensing single merchandise on vending machines shelves utilizing a combination of electronic and mechanical components that enables the disclosed system to automatically adjust for dispensing different product packages formats and dimensions, said advance dispensing mechanism comprising of:

at least one base-rack means to load a row of products to be dispensed escorted by two abutted side column dividers positioned upwardly on each side of said base-rack or in between said row of products extending from the front to back of said base-rack, wherein said column dividers are interchangeable on said side step-rails and said middle groove on said base-rack according to the width of the packages of products loaded on said base-rack;

two sliding support carrier back-sled positioned upwardly on a 102°

angle in relation with the surface of said base-rack, means to hold the products loaded on said base-rack in between said column dividers on an upward position facing the front of said base-rack, wherein said support carrier back-sled pawl when engaged with the teeth of said actuator ratchet, means to push products towards the front end of said base-rack with the purpose of dispensing the first product loaded; and

two actuator ratchets sliding forward and back each inside a two built-in channels positioned flat and on each side of said base-rack, means to move forward and back said column dividers and push forward said support carrier back-sled driven by the activation of a gear motor and a crank-slider mechanism assembly, wherein said gear motor shaft is fastened to said crank leverage arm on a pivot point positioned off from the center of said crank leverage arm on said crank-slider mechanism, means to effect an eccentric revolution to said crank leverage arm when activated by said gear motor.

13. The automatic product advance dispensing mechanism of claim 12 wherein said column dividers are connected to said actuator ratchets on the back end of said base-rack by a bracket, means to move along with said actuator ratchets when system is activated.

14. An automatic product advance mechanism for dispensing single merchandise on vending machines shelves utilizing a combination of electronic and mechanical components that enables the disclosed system to automatically adjust for dispensing different product packages formats and dimensions, said advance dispensing mechanism comprising of:

at least one base-rack means to load a row of products to be dispensed escorted by two abutted side column dividers positioned upwardly on each side of said base-rack or in between said row of products extending from the front to the back of said base-rack, wherein said base-rack at the front end has an attachable front-unit making a 30°

0 angle ramp with a immediately round end droop, means to ease the downfall of first product to be dispensed;

two sliding support carrier back-sled positioned upwardly on a 102°

angle in relation with the surface of said base-rack, means to hold the products loaded on said base-rack in between said column dividers on an upward position facing the front of said base-rack, and

two actuator ratchets sliding forward and back each inside a two built-in channels positioned flat and on each side of said base-rack, means to move forward and back said column dividers and push forward said support carrier back-sled driven by the activation of a gear motor and the operation of a crank-slider mechanism, wherein said support carrier back-sled when driven forward by the engagement of said pawl to said actuator ratchet teeth, said support carrier back-sled advances and simultaneously opens said gate-shield, wherein the first product loaded on said base-rack falls off said base-rack passing through an optical sensor beam.

15. The automatic product advance dispensing mechanism of claim 14, wherein said attachable front-unit has an extended facade, means to attaché

labels to identify rows and columns on the shelves, as well as to place price tags for products been vended.

16. The automatic product advance dispensing mechanism of claim 14, wherein said optical sensor beam when activated sends a signal to an interface circuit board that is programmed to reverse the revolution of said gear motor, means to pull back said actuator ratchet to home position and simultaneously close said clear gate-shield, Said interface circuit board electronically commands the described system functionalities and operations, and is design to be compatible with most controller boards installed at existing vending machines on the market.

17. The automatic product advance dispensing mechanism of claim 14, wherein said actuator ratchet when pulled towards the back of said base-rack said gear motor shuts off due to the activation of a built-in limit switch on said gear motor.